FEU Founder’s Wreath Laying Ceremony – 92nd Year
February 3, 2020

Members of the Nicanor Reyes family, Trustees of FEU, President Dr. Michael Alba, colleagues from our extensive FEU community, friends, ladies and gentlemen:

My father thought that he could best serve his country through education, that is why he envisioned and established FEU. I am deeply grateful therefore that year after year, we start the FEU anniversary festivities by honoring him.

Today, as we celebrate the Founder’s Wreath Laying Ceremony, we are also reminded to redefine our goals and renew our commitment to FEU. My father always stood for excellence and I think he would be happy to see the direction FEU is now going at the start of its 92nd year.

2019 was a stellar year for FEU.

We received Two Golden Arrowheads Recognition for the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard performance of above 90%, acknowledged as one of the Top 5 Philippine Publicly Listed Companies in the Services Sector, and the only educational institution. FEU won the APEA 2019 Philippines’ Corporate Excellence Category under the Education and Training Industry. Our Administration Building bathrooms were also declared to have the cleanest toilets in the educational institutions category in the country and FEU was awarded Champion of Maynilad’s Golden Kubeta Awards. In the UAAP Cheering competition, we again won the second prize.

The start of 2020 has shaken the world with several adversities: the U.S. and Iran conflict, Australia’s bushfire crisis, the novel coronavirus outbreak, and locally the eruption of Mount Taal.

During these difficult times, it would be good to pause and re-examine our goals, as they not only conform to the Founder’s ideals but also serve our students and our country.

FEU continues to expand as we finish the construction of a 4-storey building in Diliman, a 6-storey building in FEU Roosevelt Marikina, and a 8-storey building in Lerma. We have completed the new University Health Services clinic, the Registrar’s Office, and the Admissions Office. Construction of a new Student Center at the ground floor of the Education Building will commence this February. We also continue to renovate existing facilities.

Next week, we will inaugurate the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in FEU Alabang, designed by Meloy Casas of Casas + Architects, Inc. the recipient of BCI Asia’s Top 10 Architectural Firms in the Philippines award for 2018 and 2019. We are also finishing plans for the renovation of the Arts Building and the FEU Roosevelt Cainta High School.

Overall, for FEU, we will continue to move Onward. We will Be Brave As One to overcome our new challenges. For this, I want to thank you.

Lastly, I wish to thank all of those who have planned, contributed to, and attended this morning’s affair.

Good morning!